What Extras Do Parents Pay For?

Tuition is the headline number, but the real annual cost of a Dubai school includes several extras. Here's what to budget for beyond the published fee range.

Upfront and one-off costs

Most schools charge a registration or assessment fee to process an application, and a deposit to secure the seat (often partly offset against the first term). Some also have a one-time enrolment fee.

School transport

Bus fees are charged separately from tuition and vary with distance and whether you need one-way or return. If you're choosing between schools, factor transport into the comparison — a closer school can be meaningfully cheaper.

Uniforms, books and devices

Uniforms are often bought from a named supplier, plus PE kit. Add textbooks and stationery, and increasingly a laptop or tablet in the senior years.

Trips, activities and exams

Curriculum and residential trips, some after-school activities, and external examination fees (GCSE, A-Level or IB) in exam years can add up — ask which are included and which are extra.

Annual fee increases

Dubai announced a freeze on private-school tuition increases for 2026/27. Do not apply older rating-linked increase formulas to this academic year. Check the current KHDA School Fees Fact Sheet and the school’s offer, including any discounts and additional charges.